The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1887-09-30

Pauline drew a deep breath of re-
lief as her youthful swain walked
away toward the star-Iighted beach.
"WhO would imagine that the
little fellow would have laid it SO
s~IiOusly to heart p she mnrmured
softly as she extended a lily-white
hand toward MIR. Melville, " no with
half a dozen others had sauntered
up the piazza steps.
"YOu are looking grave, fair
tragic queen !" said Melville, draw
lug his bamboo chair "A trifie clos
er to her. "May one of the hum
bleSt of all your slaves venture to
ask why ~
"Did YOU ever kill or MAIN bnt-
terfly ~ demanded Pauline sudden
~.
"a great many times, | am afraid,
in the lhOughtlesSnpSs of early
youth. But why do sou ask r
Because l have just done the
same thing"
MI. Melville glanced questioning
" around.
Oh laughed Pauline, sit wasn't
real winged insect, Mr.. Melville.
| WAS but speaking metaphorlcally.
After all, it's matter Of no partic.
u1ar cOnsequemce-Only lesson the
child needed to cure him of some
thing very like presumption. It's
little Ralph MOnlacute; he had the
inIpertineDce TO tell me that he low
ed me. The idea OF a child like that
taking advantage of the encourage
ment one may have thOuSh'leSsly
given him to imagine-but its too
ridiculOus."
"Faith, | don't see the ridiculous
side OF it," said Melville, sternly.
"MOntacute is young, but he is II
mauly fellow, and-pardOn me, SOW
ereign lady of all hearts-but you
did encourage him most markedly"
IL never thought of anything So
ri0us," liSped Pauline, with an ART
lessueSs truly angelic. sit was on
~ the chance amusement OF an
hOcr.7
Melville shrugged his shoulders.
"a good deal like the story Of
lhe frogs aud the boys" he SAID.
but to dismiss all less pleasant
subjccts--what do sou say 10 IA row
on the sea by Starlight ~
IL shall be delighted" "
Aud the merry gronp vanished
into the enpurpled duTkness, their
voices ringing on the air, long after
their forms we're imperceptible.
Theu, aud not ill then, tall fig
ure raised itself from the bamboo
Settee, or couch, just within the
wide open windows, where the cool
muslin curtains waved softly at eN-
cry breath Uf the soft summer night
Oreeezr, and Major Harry Living
stone cOOlIy walked out upon The
piazza, isniIiug bis cigar as he did
so.
"The cOquetie !" he mnttered be-
tween bis sci teeth; +; ''lhe heartle>s
tllrt Now ! begin better 10 c0m-
prehend poor Ralph's varying
moods OF late. She has broken the
boys heaIt, aud cares no more fOi
it than IT she had cracked one of
her chiua cologne bOttles on her
dressing table Wen, this is n
str; Uge world II Pauline had
taken a handkerchief or purse
lrOm Ralph's pocket, tue iron hand
OF the law would be down upon her
Immediately; but she steals his
heart right out of his bosom, and
society looks on with smlling face
and folded haudsl
"WhS is there no law, made aud
enacted, TO punish such heartlesS
crimes as tblsf For crimes they
are--black treacherOus or. nes, even
though perpeIrated so charmingly
by beauiies like Pauline Sediey aud
her sister cOquettsl Aud this iair,
innocent boy, whom | loved like a
brother; the cOltest heart might
have spared hun. BY Cupid aud
all his attendant dieties, will be
revemged on Pauline Sedly for
this r.
Az almost the same uiOmeut Ralph
Monlacute came slowly mp the
piazza Steps. The light"ess aud
elasticity of his gait were gone he
walked like one who had received a
mortal wound.
"Ralph p
MOnIacute started at hts cousins
voice.
"You here, Harry Z"
"Yes, all alone. Sit down beside
me, old fellow, why are you not
with The boating party Y
"I did promise this morning 20
make one OF them; but-but some
how 1 don't leel like it tonight"
LIvingstOnR took bis cOusln's
hand, and pressed it with a hrmr
loving grasp.
81 know all ObOut il, Ralph" be
said mildly. "DOn't be cast dOwu
she isn't worth one paDg OF mem
ory. The world is wide; life Is long
You'll Outliye this blow, IT you
only have patience TO wait"
Moutaculr's head dropped Ou
Livingsione's shoulder.
"Oh, Harry 1 did love her,
loved her dearlyl'
aTake cOursge-sbe is not Wortl
IlitD
4 Aud the stslvart soldier, sOOth
ing away bis boy cousins woe. VA
gentle as 3 VOman, even while %
wondered to see that Ralph took 4
% keenly aud bitterly to heart